History of North Adams, Mass.

and the rapidity with which it superceded home-made linen, blighted the culture of flax and the seed could not be obtained cheaply enough to render the business a lucrative one. It gradually declined after the year 1828 and the oil of this mill ceased to lubricate the wheels of the machinery here about 1830. The mill was run by various parties, among them being, E. D. Whitaker who in 1827 advertised in the first newspaper printed in the village for "500 bushels flax seed." Portions of this mill were afterwards used in the construction of a grist and saw mill run by water and steam power, and which was burned in 1854.

Giles Barnes resided in one standing on the west side of Marshall street near the corner of Main. The cellar afterwards formed a part of the ditch for the old Brick Factory. This is believed to have been the first house erected in North Adams. It was a one-story structure.

Josiah Wright resided in a house on Marshall street, just south of the Arnold Print Works property.

Eli Colton, from Wilbraham, built and resided in a house on the present site of the old part of the Berkshire house.

Samuel Day resided in a house near the corner of Main and State streets, which was afterwards part of the Old Black Tavern building, most likely the eastern part of that famous structure.

Wm. Farrand purchased and lived in a house on the site of the large square house on the hill at the foot of Main street and west of the main street bridge.

The principal land holders in the village in the year 1795, were Jeremiah Colgrove Sr., Israel Jones, David Estes and David Darling. In the year 1794 when Mr. Colgrove moved here there were less than a dozen dwellings in the whole village. Their locations and the occupants names were as follows:

A small house occupied by Mr. Rose, stood on the site of the dwelling, on Robinson’s hill at the foot of Main street.

Asa Doty resided in a house located under the hill, a little west and north of Main street bridge. The same was many years afterwards occupied by Hodge & Dean, tanners, in part for finishing off leather, etc.

Mr. Corliss lived in a house just in the rear of where now stands the Berkshire house.

Amos Bronson had a dwelling on ground where Freeman’sstore is located north of Eagle bridge and corner of River and Eagle streets.

David Darling, owned and resided in a low structure and kitchen attached to same, which afterwards formed the east wing of what is familiarly known as the "Black Tavern," on the corner of Main and State streets. In 1795 Mr. Darling opened and kept a public house in this small structure, the first and for a long time the only hotel in North Adams, and to be particularly described hereafter.

Elisha Houghton had a dwelling about 25 rods north of the one above mentioned, believed to be on the site of house at south corner of Liberty and Eagle streets.

David Estes owned and occupied the house now standing on Centre street, west of J. A. Bond & Bros.’ stable. No street was then laid out and only a foot path or lane lead from his house to Eagle street.

Captain Geo. Ray lived in a dwelling near the river bank a little north of the site of Hodges grist mill.

Josiah Holbook lived in a log house near the residence of Ivory Witt on State street.

Jeremiah Colgrove Sr. resided in a small frame house near the corner of Marshall and Main streets until 1810.

Josiah Holbrook, mentioned above, was a man of giant stature, almost as large boned as the horse he bestrode. He had a voice like thunder, and was remarkably bold and determined in spirit. He was one of the American volunteers at the battle of Benninton in 1777, and tradition states that he made prisoners of thirteen of the Hessian soldiers who had wandered from the battle field. He caught them drinking at a spring, seized all their guns and pointing one at them while lie shouldered the others, bawled in terrible tones to his imaginary comrads to "Come on, boys! here they are," drove the whole baker’s dozen of mercenaries, like unresisting sheep, into the camp. On being questioned by General Stark as to the manner in which such a herd was captured, he replied "I surrounded them, sir." Mr. Holbrook was one of the rebels under Shays in 1786, and marched eastward with several others. After the defeat of that movement and his return home, a party of four troopers tried in vain to arrest him, but be frighted [sic frightening] them away. He was only captured by a company surrounding his house at night, breaking in the door, seizing him and binding him to the bed. He submitted because he could not help it. Gave up all his arm, took the oath of alliegance to the commonwealth, and was released. His name with junior appended, his father being of the same name, appears in the town records

History of North Adams.